Communication station for inventorizing transponders by means of selectable memory areas of the transponders

ABSTRACT

A communication station ( 1 ) and a transponder ( 2 ) are designed in such a way that an inventorizing operation can be performed using various memory areas ( 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 ), which are provided in an addressable memory ( 35 ) of the transponder ( 2 ), and in which different identification data (UIDDATA, USERDATA) is stored.

[0001] The invention relates to a communication station for contactlesscommunication with transponders, which communication station comprisesinventorizing means, which inventorizing means are designed forinventorizing transponders which are in communicative connection withthe communication station, and which inventorizing means compriseinventorizing command generation means which are designed for generatingan inventorizing command data block, by the evaluation of which in atransponder at least one memory area of a memory of the transponder canbe found, in which at least one memory area identification data isstored and which at least one memory area influences the inventorizingof the transponder in that, in dependence on the at least one memoryarea, a transmission parameter is specified for transmitting atransmission signal that is to be transmitted from the transponder tothe communication station for the purpose of inventorizing thetransponder.

[0002] The invention further relates to a transponder for contactlesscommunication with a communication station, which transponder comprisesa memory, which memory comprises memory areas and in which memory firstidentification data assigned to the transponder and secondidentification data assigned to the transponder are each stored in atleast one respective memory area.

[0003] The invention further relates to an integrated circuit for atransponder for contactless communication with a communication station,which integrated circuit comprises a memory, which memory comprisesmemory areas and in which memory first identification data assigned tothe integrated circuit and second identification data assigned to theintegrated circuit can each be stored in at least one respective memoryarea.

[0004] In the context of a communication station as described above anda transponder as described above and an integrated circuit as describedabove, reference may be made to the international standards of ISO 14443and ISO 15693, for example, and to a transponder system put on themarket by the applicant under the name I-Code1. Such a communicationstation and such a transponder and such an integrated circuit are thusknown.

[0005] In each of the known embodiments, the fact is that aninventorizing operation for each transponder in communicative connectionwith the communication station is always executed using the same memoryareas of these transponders and consequently always using a serialnumber stored in these memory areas and unique for the transponderconcerned, i.e. a unique identification data block, which uniqueidentification data block for all transponders is always stored in thesame memory areas of a memory of the transponder and can thus always befound under the same address. For example, for the transponder systemput on the market under the name I-Code1, the relevant unique serialnumbers, i.e. the unique identification data blocks, are each stored inall transponders in two fixed preset memory areas of the memory of thetransponder concerned.

[0006] The known solution does present a simple design, but there is theproblem that an inventorizing operation can only be executed with theserial numbers stored in fixed preset memory areas of a memory in atransponder, i.e. with the unique identification data block. Theconsequence of this is that the inventorizing of transponders has only alimited flexibility, which represents an undesired restriction sincemore and more applications arise for transponders and their integratedcircuits and for communication stations in which it is disadvantageousto execute an inventorizing operation with the help of the uniqueidentification data blocks stored in fixed preset memory areas.

[0007] It is an object of the invention to remove the above restrictionand the resulting disadvantages and to realize an improved communicationstation and an improved transponder and an improved integrated circuit.

[0008] To achieve the object described above, inventive features areprovided for a communication station according to the invention, so thata communication station as in the invention can be characterized asfollows:

[0009] Communication station for contactless communication withtransponders, of which each transponder is designed for contactlesscommunication with the communication station and each transpondercomprises an addressable memory, which memory comprises memory areaseach having an address, and in which memory first identification dataassigned to the transponder and second identification data assigned tothe transponder are each stored in at least one respective memory area;and which communication station comprises inventorizing means, whichinventorizing means are designed for inventorizing transponders whichare in communicative connection with the communication station and whichinventorizing means comprise inventorizing command generation meanswhich are designed for generating an inventorizing command data block,which block comprises a memory area selection data block by means ofwhich in a transponder the at least one memory area of the memory can befound, in which at least one memory area identification data is stored,and which at least one memory area influences the inventorizing of thetransponder in that, in dependence on the at least one memory area, atransmission parameter is specified for transmitting a transmissionsignal that is to be transmitted from the transponder to thecommunication station for inventorizing the transponder, wherein theinventorizing command generation means for generating at least oneinventorizing command data block are designed with a memory areaselection data block selectable from a set of memory area selection datablocks.

[0010] To achieve the object described above, inventive features areprovided for a transponder according to the invention, so that atransponder as in the invention can be characterized as follows:

[0011] Transponder for contactless communication with a communicationstation, which communication station comprises inventorizing means forinventorizing the transponder in communicative connection with thecommunication station, and which transponder comprises an addressablememory, which memory comprises memory areas each with an address and inwhich memory first identification data assigned to the transponder andsecond identification data assigned to the transponder are each storedin at least one respective memory area, and which transponder comprisesrecognition means for recognizing at least one item of controlinformation, which control information indicates which at least onestorage area influences the inventorizing of the transponder, and whichtransponder comprises memory area selection means which interact withthe recognition means and by means of which, in dependence on thecontrol information recognized by the recognition means, the at leastone memory area is selectable, in which at least one memory areaidentification data is stored, and which at least one memory areainfluences the inventorizing of the transponder in that, in dependenceon the at least one memory area, a transmission parameter is specifiedfor transmitting a transmission signal that is to be transmitted fromthe transponder to the communication station for the purpose ofinventorizing the transponder.

[0012] To achieve the object described above, inventive features areprovided for an integrated circuit according to the invention, so thatan integrated circuit as in the invention can be characterized asfollows:

[0013] Integrated circuit for a transponder for contactlesscommunication with a communication station, which communication stationcomprises inventorizing means for inventorizing the integrated circuitin communicative connection with the communication station, whichintegrated circuit comprises an addressable memory, which memorycomprises memory areas, each with an address, and in which memory firstidentification data assigned to the integrated circuit and secondidentification data assigned to the integrated circuit can each bestored in at least one respective memory area, and which integratedcircuit comprises recognition means for recognizing at least one item ofcontrol information, which control information indicates which at leastone storage area influences the inventorizing of the integrated circuit,and which integrated circuit comprises memory area selection means whichinteract with the recognition means and by means of which, in dependenceon the control information recognized by the recognition means, the atleast one memory area is selectable, in which at least one memory areaidentification data can be stored, and which at least one memory areainfluences the inventorizing of the integrated circuit in that, independence on the at least one memory area, a transmission parameter isspecified for transmitting a transmission signal that is to betransmitted from the integrated circuit to the communication station forthe purpose of inventorizing the integrated circuit.

[0014] The provision of the features as in the invention creates thepossibility simply and at only slight additional cost, that with thehelp of a communication station designed according to the invention andtransponders designed according to the invention and integrated circuitsdesigned according to the invention, different inventorizing operationsare optionally executable for such transponders according to theinvention, the difference between the different inventorizing operationsbeing that these inventorizing operations are executed using differentselectable memory areas of the relevant memories provided in anaddressable memory of a transponder or an integrated circuit, andpossibly the identification data stored in these selectable memoryareas. A simple method is made possible thereby for optionally executingan inventorizing operation using at least one selectable memory area, inwhich a unique serial number for a transponder or an integrated circuit,i.e. a unique identification data block of a transponder or anintegrated circuit, is stored; or for optionally executing aninventorizing operation using at least one selectable memory area inwhich typical user data for a transponder, i.e. a characteristic userdata block, is stored. This is especially advantageous because theunique identification data block is assigned by the manufacturer of thetransponder or the integrated circuit for such a transponder during itsmanufacture and stored in the memory of the transponder or theintegrated circuit, and because the characteristic user data block isstored by the user of the transponder or the transponder's integratedcircuit in the memory of the transponder or the integrated circuit. Thistherefore advantageously creates the possibility of executing aninventorizing operation either using an identification data blockassigned by a manufacturer, or using a user data block assigned by auser. It should be stressed here as especially advantageous thataccording to the inventorizing operation performed, i.e. depending onthe selectable memory areas used for an inventorizing operation or onthe identification data stored in these selectable memory areas (eitherunique identification data block or typical user data block), atransmission parameter selectable from several options for atransmission signal is chosen for the transmission of data from atransponder to a communication station, it being possible for thisselectable transmission parameter to be formed, for example, from thestarting time of several possible time windows or from the coding typeused for coding data, or from the subcarrier frequency of a subcarriersignal for modulating a transmission signal.

[0015] Advantageous further embodiments of a communication stationaccording to the invention and a transponder according to the inventionand an integrated circuit according to the invention are characterizedin the subclaims. The resulting advantages are further explained withreference to the embodiments described below.

[0016] The aspects cited above and further aspects of the invention willbecome apparent from the embodiments described below and are explainedwith reference to these embodiments.

[0017] The invention will be further described with reference toembodiments shown in the drawings to which, however, the invention isnot restricted.

[0018]FIG. 1 shows schematically in the form of a block diagram anessential part in this context of a communication station according toan embodiment of the invention.

[0019]FIG. 2 shows schematically in the form of a block diagram anessential part in this context of a transponder and an integratedcircuit for this transponder according to an embodiment of theinvention.

[0020]FIG. 3 shows schematically an inventorizing command data blockwhich can be generated with the communication station according to FIG.1 and processed with the transponder according to FIG. 2.

[0021]FIG. 4. shows two different inventorizing command data blockswhich can be generated with a communication station (not shown)according to a further embodiment of the invention and can be processedwith a transponder (not shown) according to a further embodiment of theinvention.

[0022]FIG. 1 shows a communication station 1. Communication station 1 isprovided and designed for contactless communication with transponders.FIG. 2 shows such a transponder 2. The design of the transponder 2 issubsequently dealt with in more detail.

[0023] The communication station 1 comprises a microcomputer 3. Insteadof a microcomputer 3, however, a hard-wired logic circuit mayalternatively be provided. A series of means and functions isimplemented with the help of the microcomputer 3; only those means andfunctions that are important in this context are dealt with furtherhere. The microcomputer 3 is connected via a data connection 4 to a hostcomputer (not shown). The microcomputer 3 comprises sequence controlmeans 5 which can be used for controlling a number of sequences, inparticular program flows. The microcomputer 3 is connected to a timingsignal generator 6 with which a timing signal CLK can be generated, thistiming signal CLK being fed to the microcomputer 3 for known purposes.

[0024] By means of the microcomputer 3, inventorizing means 7 arerealized. The inventorizing means 7 are designed for inventorizingtransponders 2 that are in communicative connection with thecommunication station 1. Inventorizing should be understood to mean thatthe communication station 1 receives a transmission signal uniquely andunmistakably from each transponder 2 in communicative connection withcommunication station 1, and each transponder 2 is thus uniquelyrecognized, and that for each recognized transponder 2 the receivedtransmission signal, and thus preferably characteristic or typicalidentification data, is available in the communication station 1. Theinventorizing means 7 in this case comprise inventorizing commandgeneration means 8 and identification data recognition means 9 andidentification data processing means 10.

[0025] The inventorizing command generation means 8 are developed forgenerating an inventorizing command data block IVTDB. Such aninventorizing command data block IVTDB is shown in FIG. 3. Theinventorizing command data block IVTDB comprises a command data blockCOMDB and a memory area selection data block DSELDB and a mask datablock MASKDB. The command data block COMDB notifies all transponders 2in communicative connection with the communication station 1, i.e. in acommunication area of communication station 1 that these transponders 2should be inventorized. The memory area selection data block DSELDBprovides the transponders 2 in communicative connection with thecommunication station 1 with a control information item, by means ofwhich in a transponder 2 at least one memory area of a memory of thetransponder 2 can be found, in which at least one memory areaidentification data is stored and which at least one memory areainfluences the inventorizing of the transponder 2.

[0026] The communication station 1 of FIG. 1 is advantageously designedsuch that the inventorizing command generation means 8 are designed togenerate an inventorizing command data block IVTDB, which inventorizingcommand data block IVTDB comprises a memory area selection data blockDSELDB selectable from a set of memory area selection data blocks. Inthe transponder systems known so far, no such memory area selection datablock DSELDB selectable from a set of possible memory area selectiondata blocks was or is included in an inventorizing command data blockIVTDB, as this was or is not necessary, because in the transpondersystems known so far, only preset memory areas or the contents stored inthese preset memory areas, i.e. identification data, were ever used forinventorizing purposes. According to the selection option mentionedabove, the inventorizing command generation means 8 are designed forgenerating an inventorizing command data block IVTDB as in FIG. 3 with amemory area selection data block DSELDB selectable from a set of memoryarea selection data blocks, the memory area selection data block DSELDBcontaining the address B60 of an address data memory area of the memoryof a transponder, in which address data memory area at least one addressof at least one memory area of the memory of a transponder 2 is stored,in which at least one memory area identification data is stored andwhich at least one memory area influences the inventorizing of thetransponder 2.

[0027] In relation to the selection of a memory area selection datablock DSELDB selectable from a set of memory area selection data blocks,it should also be stressed that such a selection may be made in thecommunication station 1 by inputting a corresponding control informationitem from a host computer connected to communication station 1 via thedata connection 4. Such a selection may alternatively be made byinputting corresponding control information with the help of controlkeys provided on the communication station 1.

[0028] The mask data block MASKDB notifies each transponder 2 which partof the identification data stored in the memory of transponder 2, i.e.for example of the unique identification data block or of severaltypical user data blocks for a user of a transponder 2, is to be usedfor executing an inventorizing operation. This mask data block MASKDBmay also be used for other purposes, for example the mask data blockMASKDB may be used in a so-called time slot inventorizing process forcodetermination of the time slot in which a transponder 2 transmits itstransmission signal in reply to the communication station 1. However,the measures according to the invention may be used advantageously notonly in a time slot inventorizing process, but also in otherinventorizing processes, in which, for example, a so-called bitwisecomparison or check of identification data is performed.

[0029] The output from the inventorizing command generation means 8 isinput to encoding means 11, by means of which an input inventorizingcommand data block IVTDB is subjected to encoding. After the encoding,the encoding means 11 output a coded inventorizing command data blockCIVTDB. The output from encoding means 11 is input to modulation means12, to which the coded inventorizing command data block CIVTDB can befed, and to which a carrier signal CS generated by a carrier signalgenerator 13 can additionally be fed. By means of the modulation means12, the applied carrier signal CS can be modulated in dependence on thesimilarly applied coded inventorizing command data block CIVTDB, so thatafter the modulation the modulation means 12 output a modulated codedinventorizing command data block MCIVTDB. The output from modulationmeans 12 is input to amplifying means 14 which amplify the modulatedcoded inventorizing command data block MCIVTDB. The output fromamplifying means 14 is input to matching means 15, and from there totransmission means 16, which comprise a transmission coil 17 and areeffective as means of both sending and receiving. A modulated codedinventorizing command data block MCIVTDB amplified by the amplifyingmeans 14 is fed via the matching means 15 to the transmission means 16for the purpose of transmission to all transponders 2 present in acommunication area of the communication station 1 as in FIG. 2.

[0030] The circuit parts described so far serve for transmitting signalsfrom the communication station 1 to the transponder 2 as in FIG. 2.Means are also provided in the communication station 1 which areeffective for a transmission of a transmission signal from a transponder2 as in FIG. 2 to the communication station 1. These means also includethe transmission means 16 and the matching means 15.

[0031] Also among these means are filter means 18, which are connectedto the matching means 15, and to which modulated coded identificationdata MCID can be fed as well as other signals not described in detailhere. The output from the filter means 18 is input to demodulation means19, the output from the latter then being input to decoding means 20.After a particular received signal has been filtered by the filter means18, it is demodulated by the demodulation means 19 and subsequentlydecoded by the decoding means 20, so that in the case of modulated codedidentification data MCID transmitted to the communication station 1, thecoded identification data CID appears after demodulation means 19 andthe identification data ID after decoding means 20.

[0032] The output from decoding means 20 is input to the identificationdata recognition means 9. The identification data recognition means 9can recognize the identification data ID transmitted in the form of atransmission signal with a certain transmission parameter to thecommunication station 1 if the identification data of only one singletransponder 2 is received in the communication station 1 according to atransmission parameter. However, the identification data recognitionmeans 9 can also recognize when the identification data of two or moretransponders 2 were received in the communication station 1 according toa transmission parameter, i.e. when a so-called collision has occurred,after which at least one further inventorizing operation must then beperformed. After a clear recognition of recognized identification dataID, the recognized identification data ID is fed to the identificationdata processing means 20, which identification data processing means 20process the recognized identification data ID. For example, therecognized identification data ID may be stored in a memory of themicrocomputer 3. The recognized identification data ID may alternativelybe passed on via the data connection 4 to the host computer (not shown).The recognized identification data ID may furthermore be forwarded toacknowledgement signal generation means, which acknowledgement signalgeneration means then provide for the generation of an acknowledgementsignal which is transmitted to the transponder 2 that was inventorizedduring a completed inventorizing operation, i.e. was uniquelyrecognized.

[0033] The transponder 2 will now be described with reference to FIG. 2.The transponder 2 is designed for contactless communication with thecommunication station 1 as in FIG. 1. The transponder 2 in this case isa transponder 2 which is connected to a product and in which dataconcerning the product is stored, for example data about the producttype, the sales price, the date of manufacture, the country ofmanufacture, an expiry date, and similar characteristics, as well as aserial number unique for each transponder 2 and thus significant, i.e. acharacteristic identification data block. The stored data may, forexample, correspond to the so-called EPC code ((Electronic Product Code)or the so-called EAN code. The EPC code is a data word of ninety-six(96) bits in all, with which every product in the world can besignificantly and distinguishably labeled. However, the transponder 2may alternatively be provided and developed for other applicationpurposes.

[0034] The transponder 2 comprises an integrated circuit 21. Thetransponder 2 further comprises transmission means 22. The transmissionmeans 22 consist of a transmission coil 23, which is provided outsidethe integrated circuit 21, and a capacitor 24, which is implementedwithin the integrated circuit 21. The transmission coil 23 is connectedto a terminal contact 25 of the integrated circuit 21. The transmissioncoil 23 and capacitor 24 form a resonant circuit, whose resonantfrequency corresponds to an operating frequency of at least one signalto be transmitted from the communication station 1 to the transponder 2,though this need not necessarily be so. A signal to be transmitted tothe transponder 2 in this case is an amplitude-modulated carrier signal,for example the modulated coded inventorizing command data blockMCIVTDB. But it may also be a different transmission signal.

[0035] The transmission means 22, which form receiving means, areprovided and developed for receiving an inventorizing command data blockIVTDB, this inventorizing command data block IVTDB being contained inthe amplitude-modulated and coded inventorizing command data blockMCIVTDB. The amplitude-modulated and coded inventorizing command datablock MCIVTDB can be generated with the communication station 1 as inFIG. 1, and can be transmitted contactlessly to the transponder 2 bymeans of a field produced by the communication station 1 and influencingthe transponder 2. The transmission is made in this case by inductivemeans, i.e. by transformer. However, the transmission may alternativelybe executed by electromagnetic means. With the inventorizing commanddata block IVTB, notification goes to the transponder 2 or a number oftransponders 2 present in a communication area of the communicationstation 1, that the transponder(s) 2 have to take part in aninventorizing operation.

[0036] The transponder 2 or the integrated circuit 21 comprises anenergy supply circuit 26 and a clock recovery stage 27 and ademodulation stage 28. The energy supply circuit 26 and the clockrecovery stage 27 and the demodulation stage 28 are each connected tothe terminal contact 25, with the result that these circuit elements areeach supplied with the signal received with the transponder 2, thus alsowith the amplitude-modulated coded inventorizing command data blockMCIVTDB received with the transponder 2.

[0037] The energy supply circuit 26 is provided and developed forgenerating a direct supply voltage V using the signal fed to it, as haslong been known. The energy supply circuit 26 is also provided anddeveloped for generating a so-called “Power on Reset” signal POR, whichsignal POR is generated if the transponder 2 is supplied with sufficientenergy and consequently a sufficiently high direct supply voltage V isgenerated by the energy supply circuit 26.

[0038] The clock signal recovery stage 27 is provided and developed forrestoring a clock signal CLK, using the signal fed to it, such as theamplitude-modulated coded inventorizing command data block MCIVTDB. Thismeasure, too, has long been known.

[0039] The demodulation stage 28 is provided and designed fordemodulating the amplitude-modulated coded inventorizing command datablock MCIVTDB. The amplitude-modulated coded inventorizing command datablock MCIVTDB can be fed to the demodulation stage 28, with the resultthat the demodulation stage 28 generates and outputs a demodulated codedinventorizing command data block CIVTDB. The output from demodulationstage 28 is input to a decoding stage 29, to which the codedinventorizing command data block CIVTDB can be fed and by which thisstill-encoded data block is decoded. The encoding of this data block wasexecuted previously in the communication station 1. After the decoding,the decoding stage 29 outputs the inventorizing command data blockIVTDB.

[0040] The means described so far take effect in a receive mode of thetransponder 2. But with the transponder 2 it is also possible to executea send mode or a transmit mode from the transponder 2 to thecommunication station 1. For this the transponder 2 or the integratedcircuit 21 comprises an encoding stage 30 and a modulation stage 31following the encoding stage 30, and a subcarrier signal generator 32which is connected to the modulation stage 31. The modulation stage 31is connected on the output side to the terminal contact 25 and thus tothe transmission means 22, which also form sending means. Varioussignals can be fed to the encoding stage 30, including identificationdata ID, the origin of which is dealt with in detail later. The encodingstage 30 enables encoding of the identification data ID, after whichencoding the encoding stage 30 outputs coded identification data CID.The coded identification data CID can be fed to the modulation stage 31.A subcarrier signal SCS generated by the subcarrier signal generator 32can also be fed to the modulation stage 31. Using the subcarrier signalSCS, the modulation stage 31 performs an amplitude modulation of thecoded identification data CID, so that the modulation stage 31 suppliestransmission means 22 with identification data MCID modulated in respectof amplitude and furthermore coded, which transmission means 22 providefor a transmission to the communication station 1. Instead of anamplitude modulation, however, a phase modulation or a frequencymodulation may also be performed.

[0041] The transponder 2 or the integrated circuit 21 of the transponder2 comprises a microcomputer 33. Instead of the microcomputer 33,however, a hard-wired logic circuit may also be provided. The “Power onReset” signal POR and the clock signal CLK as well as the inventorizingcommand data block IVTDB can be fed to the microcomputer 33, and themicrocomputer 33 outputs the identification data ID.

[0042] The microcomputer 33 co-operates with storage means 34, whichcomprise a RAM and a ROM or an EEPROM, but this, too, has long beenknown. The storage means 34 comprise an addressable memory 35. Theaddressable memory 35 comprises a number of memory areas, of which a fewmemory areas are marked in FIG. 2 with the reference numerals 36, 37,38, 39, 40 and 41. The memory area 41 is a so-called address data memoryarea. Each memory area possesses an address. In FIG. 2 the addresses forthe memory areas 36 to 41 are specified, namely the addresses B01, B02,B10, B11, B12, and B60.

[0043] In the addressable memory 35, first identification data IDassigned to the transponder 2 is stored (or can be stored) in the twomemory areas 36 and 37 with the addresses B01 and B02. This firstidentification data ID involves the so-called serial number, acharacteristic unique identification data block IUDDATA for thetransponder 2. In the addressable memory 35, second identification dataID assigned to the transponder 2 is stored (or can be stored) in thememory areas 38, 39 and 40. This second identification data ID involvesa typical user data block USERDATA for a user of the transponder 2. Inthis case, the three addresses B10, B11 and B12 of the memory areas 38,39 and 40 are stored in the addressable memory 35, in the address datamemory area 41 having the address B60. The reason is that in the caseassumed here the three memory areas 38, 39 and 40 with the addressesB10, B11 and B12 influence the inventorizing of the transponder 2, andfor this the second identification data ID stored in the three memoryareas 38, 39 and 40 with the addresses B10, B11 and B12, i.e. the userdata block USERDATA, can be read for the purpose of inventorizing thetransponder 2; this will be dealt with in detail later.

[0044] The microcomputer 33 comprises sequence control means 42, whichcan be used for controlling a number of sequences, in particular programflows.

[0045] By means of the microcomputer 33, recognition means 43 forrecognition of inventorizing command data blocks IVTDB are furthermoreimplemented. The inventorizing command data blocks IVTDB output by thedecoding stage 29 can be fed to the recognition means 43. Therecognition means 43 can recognize the command data block COMDB in eachinventorizing command data block IVTDB. After a recognition of such acommand data block COMDB, the recognition means 43 output a controlsignal CS, which is fed to the sequence control means 42, with theresult that the sequence control means 42 control a program flow in themicrocomputer 33 that is necessary for executing an inventorizingoperation.

[0046] The recognition means 43 comprise further recognition means 44,these further recognition means 44 being provided and developed forrecognizing control information, this control information indicatingwhich at least one memory area influences the inventorizing of thetransponder 2 and from which at least one memory area the identificationdata ID stored therein can be read for the purpose of inventorizing thetransponder 2. In the case described here, the control information isformed by the memory area selection data block DSELDB, which iscontained in an inventorizing command data block IVTDB (see FIG. 3). Thefurther recognition means 44 can recognize such a memory area selectiondata block DSELDB and output the recognized memory area selection datablock DSELDB after a recognition of such a memory area selection datablock DSELDB. In this present case the further recognition means 44 arethus designed to recognize the memory area selection data block DSELDBselected from a set of memory area selection data blocks, which memoryarea selection data block DSELDB forms an item of control information.

[0047] The microcomputer 33 also serves to implement memory areaselection means 45 which co-operate with the further recognition means44 and which, in dependence on the control information recognized bymeans of the further recognition means 44, i.e. in dependence on thememory area selection data block DSELDB recognized by the furtherrecognition means 44, can select the memory area in which at least onememory area identification data is stored and from which theidentification data ID stored therein can be read for the purpose ofinventorizing the transponder 2, and which at least one memory areainfluences the inventorizing of the transponder 2 in that, in dependenceon the at least one memory area, a transmission parameter is specifiedfor transmitting a transmission signal that is to be transmitted fromthe transponder 2 to the communication station 1 for inventorizing thetransponder 2. In this present case the memory area selection data blockDSELDB contains the address B60 of the address data memory area 41 ofthe addressable memory 35 of the transponder 2, in which address datamemory area 41 the three addresses B10, B11, and B12 of the three memoryareas 38, 39, and 40 of the memory 35 of the transponder 2 are stored,from which three memory areas 38, 39, and 40 the identification data IDstored therein, i.e. the user data block USERDATA, can be read for thepurpose of inventorizing the transponder 2. When the memory areaselection means 45 receive the memory area selection data block DSELDBfrom the further recognition means 44, the memory area selection means45 provide for a reading of the data stored in the address data memoryarea 41, i.e. for a reading of the addresses B10, B11, and B12.

[0048] The microcomputer 33 also serves to implement data processingmeans 46 which co-operate with the memory area selection means 45 andare provided and designed for processing the data read from the addressdata memory area 41, i.e. for processing the addresses B10, B11 and B12.The data read from the address data memory area 41 by the memory areaselection means 45, i.e. the addresses B10, B11 and B12, is fed to thedata processing means 46, after which the data processing means 46forward the addresses B10, B11 and B12 to the memory area selectionmeans 45, with the result that the memory area selection means 45provide for a reading of the second identification data ID stored in thememory areas 38, 39 and 40 with addresses B10, B11 and B12, i.e. theuser data block USERDATA. The user data block USERDATA read from thememory areas 38, 39 and 40 is fed to the memory area selection means 45,and subsequently the part of the user data block USERDATA that is to betransmitted as identification data ID to the communication station 1 forinventorizing the transponder 2 is determined using the mask data blockMASKDB contained in an inventorizing command data block IVTDB, whichmask data block MASKDB was recognized by the recognition means 43 andfed to the memory area selection means 45. In this present case it isassumed that from the entire second identification data ID, i.e. theuser data block USERDATA, only the second identification data ID storedin the memory area 39 with the address B11, i.e. the part of the userdata block USERDATA(B11), is to be used for inventorizing thetransponder 2. As a result, the memory area selection means 45 selectsonly the part of the user data block USERDATA(B11) stored in the memoryarea 39 with the address B11 and subsequently feeds it to the encodingstage 30 as identification data ID; this will be dealt with in detaillater.

[0049] The transponder 2 or the integrated circuit 21 of the transponder2 comprises transmission parameter determination means 47 following thememory area selection means 45, which transmission parameterdetermination means 47 are formed in the present case by time windowdetermination means 47. The time window determination means 47 areformed by means of the microcomputer 33. The identification data IDselected by the memory area selection means 45, i.e. the part of theuser data block USERDATA(B11) from the memory area 39 stored with theaddress B11, can be fed to the time window determination means 47.Furthermore, an item of control information CIMA can be fed to the timewindow determination means 47 from the memory area selection means 45,which item CIMA indicates from which memory area the identification dataID fed to the time window determination means 47 originates. The controlinformation CIMA fed to the time window determination means 47 thusprovide the latter with information referencing the memory area ofmemory 35 from which the identification data ID comes, which is to beprocessed in each case. This identification data ID may be thecharacteristic unique identification data block IUDDATA for thetransponder 2, or the typical user data block USERDATA for a user of thetransponder 2, or parts of these data blocks. Using the controlinformation CIMA, the time window determination means 47 process apreset algorithm to determine a time window, in which time window theidentification data ID fed to the time window determination means 47,i.e. the part of the user data block USERDATA(B11), is forwarded to theencoding stage 30. The time window determination means 47 are developedin this case to define a total of sixty-four (64) time windows TWbeginning at sixty-four (64) different starting times, as issymbolically specified in FIG. 2. However, a different number of timewindows beginning at different times may alternatively be selected. Forexample, thirty-two (32) or one hundred and twenty-eight (128) or twohundred and fifty-six (256), but also a number that is not a multiple oftwo (2). The part of the user data block USERDATA(B11) selected andforwarded in a specific time window TW by the time window determinationmeans 47 and forming the identification data ID selected forinventorizing purposes is then encoded by the encoding stage 30 andsubsequently modulated by the modulation stage 31, after which atransmission from the transponder 2 to the communication station 1 cantake place.

[0050] After a transmission of the selected identification data ID fromthe transponder 2 to the communication station 1, an inventorizingoperation can be performed in the communication station 1 in knownmanner.

[0051] In the transponder system formed from the communication station 1as in FIG. 1 and transponders 2 as in FIG. 2, the essential advantage isgained that the identification data ID used for an inventorizingoperation can be defined or found with the help of address data B10,B11, and B12 stored in an address data memory area 41, which offers thegreat advantage that it is easily possible to change the identificationdata ID used for an inventorizing operation by changing the address datastored in the address data memory area 41. This address data stored orstorable in the address data memory area 41 may be changed, for example,contactlessly using the transmission means 22 of the transponder 2. Forexample, changing the address data B10, B11 and B12 stored in theaddress data memory area 41 with the address B60 to the address data B01and B02 is a simple way of causing the identification data block UIDDATAto be used instead of the user data block USERDATA for inventorizingpurposes. The memory content in the address data memory area 41 with theaddress B60 may also be changed in such a way that instead of theaddresses B10, B11, and B12, only the address B10 or only the addressB11 or only the address B12 or only the addresses B10 and B11 and oronly the addresses B10 and B12 or also an address additional to theaddresses B10, B11, and B12 are stored. It should be mentioned that inthe case of indirect addressing as explained above, instead of anaddress of an address data memory area transmitted from a communicationstation to a transponder, a fixed preset address in a transponder forsuch an address data memory area may also be provided.

[0052] In the transponder system formed from the communication station 1as in FIG. 1 and transponders 2 as in FIG. 2, indirect addressing isperformed by the address data memory area 41 of those memory areas 38,39, and 40 from which the stored identification data, i.e. the user datablock USERDATA forming the second identification data, can be read forthe purpose of inventorizing a transponder 2. In a different transpondersystem with a communication system (not shown) and a transponder (notshown), a solution is provided in which a direct addressing occurs ofthose memory areas which influence the inventorizing of the transponderand from which the identification data stored in these memory areas canbe read for the purpose of inventorizing the transponder. In thistransponder system, the unrepresented communication station comprisesinventorizing command generation means which are developed to generatetwo different inventorizing command data blocks IVTDB1 and IVTDB2, whichdifferent inventorizing command data blocks IVTDB1 and IVTDB2 areschematically represented in FIG. 4. The two different inventorizingcommand data blocks IVTDB1 and IVTDB2 each comprise the same commanddata block COMDB. Each of the two inventorizing command data blocksIVTDB1 and IVTDB2 comprises a memory area selection data block, DSELDB1or DSELDB2, respectively, selectable from a set of memory area selectiondata blocks. These two memory area selection data blocks DSELDB1 andDSELDB2 are differently configured. The first memory area selection datablock DSELDB1 contains at least one address of at least one memory areaof the memory of the unrepresented transponder, in which at least onememory area the first identification data, i.e. the identification datablock UIDDATA, of the relevant transponder is stored. The second memoryarea selection data block DSELDB2 contains at least one address of atleast one memory area of the memory of the unrepresented transponder, inwhich at least one memory area the second identification data, i.e. theuser data block USERDATA, is stored.

[0053] In this case the recognition means of the unrepresentedtransponder 2, which correspond to the further recognition means 44 ofthe transponder 2 as in FIG. 2, are designed to recognize two differentmemory area selection data blocks DSELDB1 and DSELDB2, respectively,which are selectable from a set of memory area selection data blocks. Ifthe unrepresented communication station 1 sends a first inventorizingcommand data block IVTDB1 to the unrepresented transponder 2, theidentification data block UIDDATA stored in the addressable memory ofthis transponder and forming the first identification data isconsequently read for inventorizing purposes and transmitted astransmission signal to the communication station, a transmissionparameter (preferably the starting time of time windows) being specifiedin dependence on the memory area from which the first identificationdata is read. On the other hand, if the unrepresented communicationstation sends a second inventorizing data block IVTDB2 with the secondmemory area selection data block DSELDB2 to the unrepresentedtransponder 2, the user data block USERDATA stored in the memory of thistransponder and forming the second identification data is consequentlyread for inventorizing purposes and transmitted as transmission signalto the communication station, a transmission parameter (preferably thestarting time of time windows) being specified in dependence on thememory area from which the second identification data is read. Thistransponder system thus also provides a simple method of utilizingdifferent memory areas, or different identification data stored in thedifferent memory areas, for inventorizing purposes, it being possible tocall or find the different memory areas or identification data with thehelp of different inventorizing data blocks, IVTDB1 or IVTDB2.

[0054] It should also be mentioned that the different inventorizing datablocks IVTDB1 and IVTDB2 also contain different mask data blocks MASKDB1and MASKDB2, so that in each case different parts of the differentidentification data can be utilized for inventorizing purposes.

[0055] In a transponder system with a communication station according tothe invention and with transponders according to the invention, it iseasily possible to utilize two different memory areas of an addressablememory, or the first or second identification data they contain, forinventorizing purposes. Here the first identification data may be formedby a unique identification data block UIDDATA and the secondidentification data by a typical user data block USERDATA. However,there is also the possibility that the first identification data isformed by a first part of a unique identification data block UIDDATA andthe second identification data is formed by a second part of the sameunique identification data block UIDDATA. It is furthermore possiblethat the first identification data is formed by a first part of atypical user data block USERDATA and the second identification data by asecond part of the same typical user data block USERDATA.

[0056] It may further be mentioned that it is also possible to feedcontrol information to a transponder according to the invention, thiscontrol information indicating which at least one memory area shouldinfluence the inventorizing of the transponder, in which case theidentification data stored therein are to be read for the purpose ofinventorizing the transponder, and this control information containsadditional information which decides which part of the identificationdata to be read for the purpose of inventorizing a transponder should beused for an inventorizing run. This additional information provides asimple method of utilizing differently sized parts of storedidentification data for the purpose of inventorizing a transponder, thesize of the parts to be used being governed by the application of thetransponders; for example such that in the event that only a relativelysmall number of transponders is to be inventorized, only a relativelysmall part of stored identification data is used for inventorizing,whereas if a relatively large number of transponders is to beinventorized, a relatively large part of stored identification data isused for inventorizing. Such additional information may be formed by amask having a mask value and a mask length, but also by a so-called hashvalue.

[0057] In the above embodiments of communication stations according tothe invention and transponders according to the invention, controlinformation for the purpose of defining or selecting the memory areaswhich should influence the inventorizing of the transponder and fromwhich identification data should be read for inventorizing purposes, istransmitted from a communication station in the form of data blocks tothe relevant transponders. However, it is alternatively possible tostore such control information directly in a memory of a transponder orthe integrated circuit of a transponder, for example as a flag, whichcan be programmed either by the manufacturer of the transponder duringmanufacture, or by the user. Such control information may also beimplemented in the integrated circuit during manufacture of theintegrated circuit for a transponder, by realizing a specificdevelopment of the so-called metal mask, or an integrated fuse.

[0058] As a transmission parameter for the transmission of atransmission signal to be transmitted from the transponder to thecommunication station, when an inventorizing operation is performed withthe communication stations and transponders described above according tothe invention, the respective starting time of time windows is specifiedby time window determination means in dependence on the selected memoryarea from which identification data is or was read for inventorizing atransponder. In alternative embodiments, however, depending on theselected memory area that influences the inventorizing of thetransponder by specifying a transmission parameter in dependence on theselected memory area, the encoding type for the transmission signal or asubcarrier signal for modulating the transmission signal may also bebrought in as a transmission parameter.

[0059] In the communication stations and transponders according to theembodiments described above, the selected memory areas are used forspecifying a transmission parameter for a transmission signal to betransmitted from a transponder to a communication station in aninventorizing operation, and in addition the identification data storedin these memory areas is transmitted in part to the communicationstation. This need not necessarily be so, as it is also possible toutilize the selected memory areas or the identification data stored inthese memory areas only to specify the transmission parameter, but notto use the stored identification data or part of it as a transmissionsignal for inventorizing purposes, using other data stored in anaddressable memory of a transponder instead.

[0060] In the transponders described with reference to FIG. 2, thestorage means 34 comprise a memory 35 that is realized as one storageunit. However, such a memory 35 may alternatively comprise severalstorage levels implemented as separate units, the memory areas addressedwith the addresses B01 and B02 being implemented, for example, with onestorage level, and the memory areas addressed with the addresses B10,B11, and B12 being implemented with another storage level. Here thememory areas with the addresses B01 and B02 may be formed, for example,by a so-called metal mask, which then forms a storage level.

1. A communication station (1) for contactless communication withtransponders (2), of which transponders (2) each transponder (2) isdesigned for contactless communication with the communication station(1) and each transponder (2) comprises an addressable memory (35), whichmemory (35) comprises memory areas (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) each havingan address (B01, B02, B10, B11, B12, B60), and in which memory (35)first identification data (UIDDATA) assigned to the transponder (2) andsecond identification data (USERDATA) assigned to the transponder (2)are each stored in at least one respective memory area, and whichcommunication station (1) comprises inventorizing means (7), whichinventorizing means (7) are designed for inventorizing transponders incommunicative connection with the communication station (1), and whichinventorizing means (7) comprise inventorizing command generation means(8) which are designed for generating an inventorizing command datablock (IVTDB; IVTDB1, IVTDB2) which block comprises a memory areaselection data block (DSELDB; DSELDB1, DSELDB2) by means of which in atransponder (2) the at least one memory area (36, 37, 38, 39, 40) of thememory (35) can be found, in which at least one memory area (36, 37, 38,39, 40) identification data (UIDDATA, USERDATA) is stored, and which atleast one memory area (36, 37, 38, 39, 40) influences the inventorizingof the transponder (2) in that, in dependence on the at least one memoryarea (36, 37, 38, 39, 40), a transmission parameter (TW) is specifiedfor transmitting a transmission signal (USERDATA(B11)) that is to betransmitted from the transponder (2) to the communication station (1)for inventorizing the transponder (2), wherein the inventorizing commandgeneration means (8) for generating at least one inventorizing commanddata block (IVTDB; IVTDB1, IVTDB2) are designed with a memory areaselection data block (DSELDB; DSELDB1, DSELDB2) selectable from a set ofmemory area selection data blocks.
 2. A communication station (1) asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the inventorizing command generation means(8) are designed for generating an inventorizing command data block(IVTDB) with a memory area selection data block (DSELDB) selectable froma set of memory area selection data blocks, the memory area selectiondata block (DSELDB) containing the address (B60) of an address datamemory area (41) of the memory (35) of the transponder (2), in whichaddress data memory area (41) the at least one address (B10, B11, B12)of the at least one memory area (38, 39, 40) of the memory (35) of thetransponder (2) is stored, in which at least one memory area (38, 39,40) identification data (USERDATA) is stored and which at least onememory area (38, 39, 40) influences the inventorizing of the transponder(2).
 3. A communication station (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein theinventorizing command generation means are designed for generating twodifferent inventorizing command data blocks (IVTDB1, IVTDB2), each witha memory area selection data block (DSELDB1, DSELDB2) selectable from aset of memory area selection data blocks, the two memory area selectiondata blocks (DSELDB1, DSELDB2) being different, and wherein the firstmemory area selection data block (DSELDB1) comprises the at least oneaddress of the at least one memory area of the memory of the transponderin which at least one memory area the first identification data(UIDDATA) is stored, and wherein the second memory area selection datablock (DSELDB2) comprises the at least one address of the at least onememory area of the memory of the transponder in which at least onememory area the second identification data (USERDATA) is stored.
 4. Atransponder (2) for contactless communication with a communicationstation (1), which communication station (1) comprises inventorizingmeans (7) for inventorizing the transponder (2) in communicativeconnection with the communication station (1), and which transponder (2)comprises an addressable memory (35), which memory (35) comprises memoryareas (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) each with an address (B01, B02, B10, B11,B12, B60) and in which memory (35) first identification data (UIDDATA)assigned to the transponder (2) and second identification data(USERDATA) assigned to the transponder (2) are each stored in at leastone respective memory area, and which transponder (2) comprisesrecognition means (44) for recognizing at least one item of controlinformation (IVTDB; IVTDB1, IVTDB2), which control information indicateswhich at least one memory area (36, 37, 38, 39, 40) influences theinventorizing of the transponder (2), and which transponder (2)comprises memory area selection means (45) which interact with therecognition means (44) and by means of which, in dependence on thecontrol information (IVTDB; IVTDB1, IVTDB2) recognized by therecognition means (44), the at least one memory area (36, 37, 38, 39,40) is selectable, in which at least one memory area (36, 37, 38, 39,40) identification data (UIDDATA, USERDATA) is stored, and which atleast one memory area (36, 37, 38, 39, 40) influences the inventorizingof the transponder (2) in that, in dependence on the at least one memoryarea (36, 37, 38, 39, 40), a transmission parameter (TW) is specifiedfor transmitting a transmission signal (USERDATA (B11)) that is to betransmitted from the transponder (2) to the communication station (1)for inventorizing the transponder (2).
 5. A transponder (2) as claimedin claim 4, which transponder (2) is provided for contactlesscommunication with a communication station (1), in which theinventorizing means (7) comprise inventorizing command generation means(8) which are designed for generating an inventorizing command datablock (IVTDB; IVTDB1, IVTDB2) which comprises a memory area selectiondata block (DSELDB; DSELDB1, DSELDB2) by means of which in thetransponder (2) the at least one memory area (36, 37, 38, 39, 40) of thememory (35) of the transponder (2) can be found, in which at least onememory area (36, 37, 38, 39, 40) identification data (UIDDATA, USERDATA)is stored, and which at least one memory area (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)influences the inventorizing of the transponder (2), wherein theinventorizing command generation means (8) are designed for generatingat least one inventorizing command data block (IVTDB; IVTDB1, IVTDB2)with a memory area selection data block (DSELDB; DSELDB1, DSELDB2)selectable from a set of memory area selection data blocks, and in whichtransponder (2) the recognition means (44) are designed for recognizingat least one memory area selection data block (DSELDB; DSELDB1, DSELDB2)selectable from a set of memory area selection data blocks, which atleast one memory area selection data block (DSELDB; DSELDB1, DSELDB2)forms the at least one item of control information.
 6. A transponder (2)as claimed in claim 5, wherein the recognition means (44) are designedfor recognizing a memory area selection data block (DSELDB) selectablefrom a set of memory area selection data blocks, the memory areaselection data block (DSELDB) containing the address (B60) of an addressdata memory area (41) of the memory (35) of the transponder (2), inwhich address data memory area (41) the at least one address (B10, B11,B12) of the at least one memory area (38, 39, 40) of the memory (35) ofthe transponder (2) is stored, in which at least one memory area (38,39, 40) identification data (USERDATA) is stored and which at least onememory area (38, 39, 40) influences the inventorizing of the transponder(2).
 7. A transponder (2) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the recognitionmeans are designed for recognizing two different memory area selectiondata blocks (DSELDB1, DSELDB2) selectable from a set of memory areaselection data blocks, the first memory area selection data block(DSELDB1) containing the at least one address of the at least one memoryarea of the memory of the transponder, in which at least one memory areathe first identification data (UIDDATA) is stored, and the second memoryarea selection data block (DSELDB2) containing the at least one addressof the at least one memory area of the memory of the transponder, inwhich at least one memory area the second identification data (USERDATA)is stored.
 8. An integrated circuit (21) for a transponder (2) forcontactless communication with a communication station (1), whichcommunication station (1) comprises inventorizing means (7) forinventorizing the integrated circuit (21) in communicative connectionwith the communication station (1), which integrated circuit (21)comprises an addressable memory (35), which memory (35) comprises memoryareas (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41), each with an address (B01, B02, B10,B11, B12, B60), and in which memory (35) first identification data(UIDDATA) assigned to the integrated circuit (21) and secondidentification data (USERDATA) assigned to the integrated circuit (21)can each be stored in at least one respective memory area, and whichintegrated circuit (21) comprises recognition means (44) for recognizingat least one item of control information (IVTDB; IVTDB1, IVTDB2), whichcontrol information indicates which at least one memory area (36, 37,38, 39, 40) influences the inventorizing of the integrated circuit (21),and which integrated circuit (21) comprises memory area selection means(45) which interact with the recognition means (44) and by means ofwhich, in dependence on the control information (IVTDB; IVTDB1, IVTDB2)recognized by the recognition means (44), the at least one memory area(36, 37, 38, 39, 40) is selectable, in which at least one memory area(36, 37, 38, 39, 40) identification data (UIDDATA, USERDATA) can bestored, and which at least one memory area (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)influences the inventorizing of the integrated circuit (21) in that, independence on the at least one memory area (36, 37, 38, 39, 40), atransmission parameter (TW) is specified for transmitting a transmissionsignal that is to be transmitted from the integrated circuit (21) to thecommunication station (1) for inventorizing the integrated circuit (21).9. An integrated circuit (21) as claimed in claim 8, which integratedcircuit (21) is provided for contactless communication with acommunication station (1) in which the inventorizing means (7) compriseinventorizing command generation means (8) which are designed forgenerating an inventorizing command data block (IVTDB; IVTDB1, IVTDB2)comprising a memory area selection data block ((DSELDB; DSELDB1,DSELDB2), by means of which in the integrated circuit (21) the at leastone memory area (36, 37, 38, 39, 40) of the memory (35) of theintegrated circuit (21) can be found, in which at least one memory area(36, 37, 38, 39, 40) identification data (UIDDATA, USERDATA) can bestored, and which at least one memory area (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)influences the inventorizing of the integrated circuit (21), wherein theinventorizing command generation means (8) are designed for generatingat least one inventorizing command data block (IVTDB; IVTDB1, IVTDB2)with a memory area selection data block (DSELDB; DSELDB1, DSELDB2)selectable from a set of memory area selection data blocks, and in whichintegrated circuit (21) the recognition means (44) are designed forrecognizing at least one memory area selection data block (DSELDB;DSELDB1, DSELDB2) selectable from a set of memory area selection datablocks, which at least one memory area selection data block (DSELDB;DSELDB1, DSELDB2) forms the at least one item of control information.10. An integrated circuit (21) as claimed in claim 9, wherein therecognition means (44) are designed for recognizing a memory areaselection data block (DSELDB) selectable from a set of memory areaselection data blocks, which memory area selection data block (DSELDB)contains the address (B60) of an address data memory area (41) of thememory (35) of the integrated circuit (21), in which address data memoryarea (41) the at least one address (B10, B11, B12) of the at least onememory area (38, 39, 40) of the memory (35) of the integrated circuit(21) can be stored, in which at least one memory area (38, 39, 40)identification data (USERDATA) can be stored, and which at least onememory area (38, 39, 40) influences the inventorizing of the integratedcircuit (21).
 11. An integrated circuit (21) as claimed in claim 9,wherein the recognition means are designed for recognizing two differentmemory area selection data blocks (DSELDB1, DSELDB2) selectable from aset of memory area selection data blocks, the first memory areaselection data block (DSELDB1) containing the at least one address ofthe at least one memory area of the memory of the integrated circuit, inwhich at least one memory area the first identification data (UIDDATA)can be stored, and the second memory area selection data block (DSELDB2)containing the at least one address of the at least one memory area ofthe memory of the integrated circuit, in which at least one memory areathe second identification data (USERDATA) can be stored.